Power supply expected to resume by tomorrow: Omar

Two days after Kashmir Valley plunged into darkness due to heavy snowfall, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday assured that the power supply to the region would be restored by tomorrow.

Two days after Kashmir Valley plunged into darkness due to heavy snowfall, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday assured that the power supply to the region would be restored by Monday.

"Weather permitting, the normal electricity supply in Kashmir Valley will be restored by tomorrow evening or Tuesday morning," Omar told reporters in Srinagar.

Kashmir Valley plunged into darkness on Friday following moderate to heavy snowfall across the region.

Briefing the media about the restoration work, he said the Kishanpore-Pampore transmission line will be restored later, Sunday evening, while the Kishanpore-Wagoora line is expected to be restored by Monday evening.

The chief minister said the power crisis was triggered by unexpected snowfall in south of Pir Panjal range.

"Normally, the maximum damage to the power infrastructure takes place in Kashmir Valley but we have had unexpected snowfall on the other side of the Pir Panjal which has resulted in snapping of the transmission line at multiple places," he said.

Omar said he has kept the state helicopter available to power grid corporation to facilitate the speedy restoration of the transmission line.

"We have around 200 MWs available right now which we are feeding hospitals, water supply schemes and other essential services," he said.

He said the snow clearance on Srinagar-Jammu national highway is also in full swing and the 294-km road is likely to reopen for one-way traffic Sunday evening.

"Snow clearing is on between Ramban and Banihal while four kilometer stretch between Batote and Patnitop is still blocked," the chief minister said adding the Banihal-Srinagar stretch of the highway has been cleared for traffic.